Method for powering trap machines on a sporting clays course

ABSTRACT

A method for powering trap machines on a sporting clays includes driving a golf cart to a first station on the sporting clays course, connecting a trap machine at the first station to the golf cart with a power cord, running the trap machine at the first station with electricity drawn from a battery in the golf cart and transferred over the power cord, disconnecting the trap machine at the first station from the golf cart, riving the golf cart to a second station the sporting clays course, connecting a trap machine at the second station to the golf cart with a power cord; and running the trap machine at the second station with electricity drawn from a battery in the golf cart and transferred over the power cord.

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are generally in the field of sporting clays, and specifically in the field of powering trap machines on a sporting clays course.

BACKGROUND

Sporting clays is a variant of trap shooting or skeet shooting. In trap and skeet shooting, there is one well-defined station where one or more trap machines throw clay targets in a repeated pattern. Sporting clays takes place on a course consisting of multiple stations, each of which has one or more trap machines oriented in various ways and set to throw differing patterns of clay targets, in an effort to mimic actual hunting.

The stations of a sporting clays course are similar to holes on a golf course. Shooters may ride a golf cart to each station, take their position at the station's shooting stand, and attempt to shoot all the clay targets thrown at that particular station. Lakes, trees, and other natural and man made objects may be present at each station.

Because the sporting clays course has multiple stations laid out over a wide area, it is likely that most or all of the trap machines on the sporting clays course will not have access to the electrical grid. Instead, sporting clays courses power their trap machines by providing each trap machine with a marine battery. The battery is left in the trap house along with the trap machines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken with the following figures of embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary sporting clays course;

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary golf cart;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary trap machine;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary trap machine being powered by an exemplary golf cart;

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary procedure for powering trap machines on a shooting clays course.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example embodiment of the present invention may be a method for powering trap machines on a shooting clays course including driving a golf cart to a first station on the sporting clays course, connecting a trap machine at the first station to the golf cart with a power cord, running the trap machine at the first station with electricity drawn from a battery in the golf cart and transferred over the power cord, disconnecting the trap machine at the first station from the golf cart, driving the golf cart to a second station the sporting clays course, connecting a trap machine at the second station to the golf cart with a power cord, and running the trap machine at the second station with electricity drawn from a battery in the golf cart and transferred over the power cord.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary sporting clays course. The sporting clays course may be laid out similarly to a golf course, with a clubhouse 101, a cart path 102, and stations instead of holes. The stations may include a shooting stand, for example, the shooting stand 104, and a trap house, for example the trap house 103. Every station on the shooting clays course may include one or more trap houses, and each trap house may include one or more trap machines.

For example, in FIG. 1, the shooting stand 104 and the trap house 103 may make up a first station. The shooting stand 106 and the trap house 105 may make up a second station. The shooting stand 108 and the trap houses 107 and 109 may make up a third station. The shooting stand 110 and the trap house 111 may make up a fourth station. The shooting stand 113 and the trap houses 112 and 114 may make up a fifth station. The shooting stand 116 and the trap house 115 may make up a sixth station. The shooting stand 117 and the trap house 118 may make up a seventh station. The shooting stand 119 and the trap house 120 may make up eighth station. The shooting stand 122 and the trap house 121 may make up a ninth station. The shooting stand 124 and the trap houses 123 and 125 may make up a tenth station.

The clubhouse 101 may be the starting and ending point of the shooting clays course. Shooters may arrive at the clubhouse 101, prepare their equipment, and then embark on the path 102 to the first station. The path 102 may be a golf cart path of any suitable variety, including a paved path, a dirt path, or a gravel path. After completing the last station, the shooters may follow the path 102 back to the clubhouse 101.

The shooting stands 104, 106, 108, 110, 113, 116, 117, 119, 122, and 124 may be any suitable structure for trap or skeet shooting, including, for example, decks, raised platforms, and frames. The trap houses 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 112, 114, 115, 118, 120, 121, 123 and 125 may be any suitable structure for containing one or more trap machines, including, for examples, enclosures on the ground and enclosures on a raised platform. The trap machines may be of any suitable type, and the trap machine used may vary from station to station. The type of clay target thrown by the trap machine, and the angle, speed, and interval of clay target throwing may also vary among the trap machines at the various stations.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary golf cart. Because the stations on the shooting clays course may be spread out along the path 102, the shooters may use a golf cart 201 to travel between holes. The golf cart 201 may include battery 202, a seat 203, a power socket 204, a connector cable 205, and a dashboard 206. The golf cart 201 may be, for example, any suitable golf cart type, including an electric golf cart, a gas powered golf cart, a hybrid golf cart, and so on.

The battery 202 may be one or more batteries of any suitable type in the golf cart 201, including a golf cart battery, an automotive battery, marine battery and a lithium-ion battery. The battery 202 may, for example, be six golf cart batteries. The battery 202 may provide power to any electrical and electronic systems on the golf cart 201. If the golf cart 201 has an electric motor, the battery 202 may drive the electric motor and may be charged by being plugged in to an electrical power source. If the golf cart 201 has a gas motor, the battery may be charged by a generator attached to the gas motor. The battery 202 may be located under the seat 203 of the golf cart 201.

The power socket 204 may be any suitable socket type for receiving a power cord from a device external to the golf cart 201 in order to provide electrical power to the device. The power socket 204 may be located in any suitable location on the golf cart 201, and the golf cart 201 may have more than one power socket 204. The connector cable 205 may a be a power cable connecting the battery 202 to the power socket 204, allowing a device plugged into the power socket 204 to draw electrical power from the battery 202. The power socket 204 may be, for example, a standard 120V American AC socket, any may include any necessary voltage regulation and current inversion capabilities to transform the electrical power provided by the battery 202. The power socket 204 may also be, for example, a standard automotive 12V DC socket.

The power socket 204 may also include a data socket for receiving a data cable such as, for example, a USB cable. The data socket may allow data to be exchanged between an external device and electronic systems in the golf cart 201, and may also allow the external device to draw power from the battery 202.

In an alternative embodiment, the power socket 204 may be replaced with a power cord stored in the golf cart 201 connected to the battery 202. The power cord may have a socket or plug type connector.

The dashboard 206 may be a golf cart dashboard of any suitable type, and may include a display screen for displaying data received through the data socket of the power socket 204, and may include controller devices, such as, for example, a touch screen, to allow a user to input data that may transmitted to the external device connected to the data socket.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary trap machine. The trap machine 301 may be any suitable trap machine or skeet machine for throwing the clay targets 302. The trap machine 301 may have various settings that may be adjusted to allow the trap machine 301 to throw the clay targets 302 at different speeds, angles, and intervals. The trap machine 301 may be electrically powered, and may include power cord 303 for connecting the trap machine 301 to a power source. In an alternative embodiment, the trap machine 301 may include a socket or plug type connector for receiving a power cord 303.

The trap machine 301 may further include electronic systems that collect data on the trap machine 301, for example on how many clay targets 302 are left, and allow for control of the trap machine 301. The trap machine 301 may have a data cable, such as, for example, a USB cable, to allow external devices to access and control the electronic systems of the trap machine 301.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary trap machine being powered by an exemplary golf cart. FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary procedure for powering trap machines on a shooting clays course.

In block 501, the shooters may drive the golf cart 201 from the clubhouse 101 along the path 102 to the first station of the shooting clays course. For example, the golf cart 201 may be driven to the first station including the shooting stand 104 and the trap house 103.

In block 502, the trap machine 301 at the station the golf cart 201 has been driven to may be plugged into the golf cart 201. As depicted in FIG. 4, the power cord 303 of the trap machine 301 may be plugged into the power socket 204 of the golf cart 201. The trap machine 301 may then draw electrical power from the battery 202, allowing the trap machine 301 to throw the clay targets 302 from the trap house at the station. If a station has more than one trap machine 301, in one or more trap houses, the proper cabling and equipment may be present at the station or on the golf cart 201 to allow for all of the trap machines 301 at the station to be powered by a single power cord 303 plugged into the power socket 204. Alternatively, the golf cart 201 may have multiple power sockets 204, allowing for each of the trap machines 301 to utilize it's own power cord 303. While the tap machine 301 is connected to the golf cart 201, a lock-out mechanism may be engaged on the golf cart 201, preventing the golf cart 201 from being driven.

If the trap machine 301 includes a data cable, the data cable may also be plugged into the data socket of the power socket 204. Data from the trap machine 301 may be displayed, for example, on the dashboard 206 of the golf cart 201, or any other suitable display device that can received data from the trap machine 301, such as, for example, a handheld device. The trap machine 301 may further be controlled through the data cable from the dashboard 206, or any other suitable device. Data may also be displayed on attachment box of the trap machine 301.

In block 503, the shooters may complete the station. The trap machine 301 may throw the clay targets 302 out of the station's trap house, and the shooters may shoot at the clay targets 302 from the shooting stand. Each shooter may shoot at the required number of the clay targets 302 for the station. For example, the trap machine 301 in the trap house 103 may throw ten clay targets 302 per shooter.

In block 504, once all shooters have completed the station, the trap machine 301 may be unplugged from the golf cart 201. For example, the power cord 303 may be removed from the power socket 204. Any data cable from the trap machine 301 may also be unplugged from the golf cart 201. When the trap machine 301 is unplugged from the golf cart 201, any lock-out mechanism may be disengaged, allowing the golf cart 201 to be driven away from the trap machine 301.

In block 505, if there are more stations left on the sporting clays course, flow proceeds to block 506. Otherwise flow proceeds to block 507.

In block 506, the golf cart 201 may be driven on the path 102 to the next station on the sporting clays course. Flow then proceeds back to block 502, where the trap machine 301 at the next station may be plugged in to the golf cart 201.

In block 507, if there are no more stations left on the sporting clays course, the golf cart 201 may driven on the path back to the clubhouse 101. Flow then proceeds to block 508 and ends.

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that these and other elements may be desirable. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. It should be appreciated that the figures are presented for illustrative purposes and not as construction drawings. Omitted details and modifications or alternative embodiments are within the purview of persons of ordinary skill in the art.

It can be appreciated that, in certain aspects of the present invention, a single component may be replaced by multiple components, and multiple components may be replaced by a single component, to provide an element or structure or to perform a given function or functions. Except where such substitution would not be operative to practice certain embodiments of the present invention, such substitution is considered within the scope of the present invention.

The examples presented herein are intended to illustrate potential and specific implementations of the present invention. It can be appreciated that the examples are intended primarily for purposes of illustration of the invention for those skilled in the art. The diagrams depicted herein are provided by way of example. There may be variations to these diagrams or the operations described herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, in certain cases, method steps or operations may be performed or executed in differing order, or operations may be added, deleted or modified. 

1. A method for powering trap machines on a sporting clays course comprising: driving a golf cart to a first station on the sporting clays course; connecting a trap machine at the first station to the golf cart with a power cord; running the trap machine at the first station with electricity drawn from a battery in the golf cart and transferred over the power cord; disconnecting the trap machine at the first station from the golf cart; driving the golf cart to a second station on the sporting clays course; connecting a trap machine at the second station to the golf cart with a power cord; and running the trap machine at the second station with electricity drawn from a battery in the golf cart and transferred over the power cord.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting a data cable from the trap machine at the first station to the golf cart.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving data at the golf cart from the trap machine over the data cable.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the received data on a dashboard in the golf cart.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising controlling the trap machine using the data cable.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the golf cart is one of an electric golf cart, a gas motor golf cart, and a hybrid golf cart.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is at least one of an automotive battery, a golf cart battery, a marine battery; and a lithium-ion battery.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the trap machine at the first station to the golf cart further comprises plugging the power cord in to a power socket on the golf cart.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the power socket is an American 120V AC socket.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the power socket is a automotive 12V DC socket.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the power socket includes a power inverter.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the power socket includes a voltage transformer. 